- Seating furniture with a height of 15 inches or less with a rigid frame that is intended to be used as a support for the body, limbs or feet of a child when sitting or resting in an upright or reclining position.

- It can also be folded for transport or storage and may include a rocking base.

- The product is intended to be used by a single child who can get out of the chair unassisted.

The final rule will become effective June 15, 2018.

US State of California OEHHA Amends Proposition 65 Warning

On November 20, 2017, the Office of Environmental Health Assessment (OEHHA) has approved an amendment to Title 27, California Code of Regulations, Article 6, Clear and Reasonable warnings. The key changes are summarized below:

The added chemical meets the requirements for listing purposes of Proposition 65 as known to the State of California to cause Cancer toxicity. The chemical details are provided below:

Date of addition

Chemical

Chemical Abstracts Service Number (CAS No.)

Types of Toxicity

December 29, 2017

Vinylidene chloride (1,1-Dichloroethylene)

75-35-4

Cancer

US State of California OEHHA Proposes NSRL for Certain Chemicals

On December 29, 2017, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a notice to propose No Significant Risk Levels (NSRLs) for two chemicals, which were listed under Proposition 65 as being known to the state to cause Cancer.

The deadline for notification about the presence of the new SVHCs in articles is July 15, 2018, six months after their inclusion on the List.

Europe Recalls Summary (From June to December 2017)

In Europe, when hazards are identified in consumer products, the products will be recalled and published in the Rapid Alert System, which is updated weekly. The European recalls from June to December 2017 are summarized below:

In the updated safety standard, a new version of the Australia/ New Zealand standard is adopted and the flotation aid is defined as:

- Designed for children under 14 years of age; and

- To be worn on or attached to the user’s body, or sat in by the user, for the purpose of enabling them to gain confidence through water familiarization, or to assist them in acquiring unaided buoyancy through swimming tuition

It excludes the following:

- A flotation toy

- An unattached flotation device

- An article designed only for therapeutic use

- An article designed for use by disabled persons

- A personal flotation device for use in boating or other recreational water activities

The transition period of the safety standard was given until December 14, 2019. Within this period, swimming and flotation aid devices may comply with either the old or the new version of AS/NZS 1900.

ASIA NEWS

In December 2017, the HKSAR Government proposed to adopt up-to-date safety standards promulgated by the relevant standards for toys and children’s products listed in Schedule 2 under the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424). The comment period ended on December 31, 2017.